25/04/2022
Villa 3-7 Old Fort Celtic
Very much the game of two halves in Mullarney yesterday as Villa's youthful senior team went down to a very good Old Fort side. A strong start from the visitors was dealt with well by Brian Hickey, Jacob O Brien and Callum Brophy in the Villa rearguard before Aaron Delaney opened the scoring with as good a goal as you'd see anywhere. Picking the ball up near the left touchline, he beat two players before unleashing a swerving drive past Lewis into the net to put us a goal to the good. Old Fort are a very good side and they reacted well and forced an equaliser when Stewart Brett rounded Villa keeper Ewan Kenny and slotted home. Villa protests for offside were waved away by the match referee, and the sides were level.
This young side are full of heart and determination however, and their efforts were rewarded when Delaney got his second of the game when he bundled home from close range after good work from Sean Hickey, before we were dealt a real blow when Joe Keatley had to be replaced due to injury after an accidental collision. He was replaced by the impressive Eric O'Shea who wasted no time in putting his stamp on the game with an absolutely super strike from the edge of the box to put us 3-1 up and in a good position as we approached half time.
That position was shaken before the whistle however, as the scorer of the first goal squared a great ball into the path of Oliver Renke, who drilled past Kenny to halve the defecit.
The feeling at half time was that we were in a great position and the game could go either way, and that the next goal was massive. Unfortunately for us that goal went to the visitors when a brilliantly flighted corner was headed powerfully to the net from 8 yards by the powerful David Costigan to tie up the game.
Things quickly got worse for Villa when some good footwork in our box drew a tackle which we normally wouldn't make, and the referee correctly pointed to the spot and Celtic's Brian Smith, who was excellent all game, converted well. We lost both Brian Hickey and Jacob O Brien within minutes of each other and Celtic's fifth goal, and Costigans second from another well worked set piece seemed to knock the stuffing out of us.
Celtic are certainly a team that will be contending for league honours this year and they added 2 more goals to claim their third win from three games and solidify their position at the summit of Division 1.
There's certainly a lot to be happy with from the game for our lads, and we'll take a lot of positives from it, particularly the first 45 minutes. Best for Villa were Delaney, who nabbed his third and fourth goals of the season, Conor Mullen, O'Shea and until his departure, Brian Hickey.
Just a final note to wish the three injured lads, Joe, Jay and Brian the best, as well as Jason Morgan who picked up a knock in training during the week, hopefully they'll be back soon! And sincere thanks to the Old Fort manager for his assistance in particular with Jay's injury.
Next up is another home game next Sunday versus St. Anthony's at 2pm in Mullarney, and the lads will be back on the training pitch on Tuesday.
Castle Villa: Ewan Kenny, Ethan McGlinchey, Nathan Connolly, Callum Brophy, Brian Hickey, Jacob O'Brien, Eoin Tynan, Conor Mullen, Joe Keatley, Aaron Delaney, Sean Hickey, Eric O'Shea, Jack McGeer, Emmet Gibbons, Cameron Kenny, James Clifford, Adam O'Mara, Scott Mulhall, Rory Hankin.
